Tongs



Feb. 24, 1925.

L.- E. VAN EVERY TONGS Filed July 25, 1924 r O a Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES LEWIS ELSWO'RTH VAN EVERY, OF HAMPTON, IOWA.

' TONGS.

Application filed July 25,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LnwIs E. VAN EVERY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hampton, in the county of Franklin and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to handling implements of the tong type, and has'for its object, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, the provision of a pair of tongs particularly constructed for usein handling ice cream cans or other articles of a similar or bulky nature. I

A further object is the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a pair of tongs, so constructed that upon the up or downward movement of a single handle carried by the tongs, the said tongs will automatically open or close, to grasp or re lease the object to be handled.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a'pair of tongs, in manner as hereinafter set forth, so con structed that upon the upward movement of the handle carried thereby, the tong members will be drawn in tightly against theobject to which they are applied.

The final object of the invention is the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a pair of tongs having few moving parts, of simple structure, light, durable, yet inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following de- 7 tailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsforming part of this specification, with the understancing that. the invention is notconfined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, -but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the'line 3+8 of Fig; 1. I

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals of reference-indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing, there is shown a pair of cross members 1, each formed of a broad 1924. Serial No. 728,153.

fiat band of steel or iron. As is clearly shown, the fiat surface of these members are laid together and secured by a rivet 2 at a point above their central point Below the pivot point, each member is given a half twist inward at the point 3 bringing the flat surfaces of the members face to face as at 4:. The lower end of each of the members below the pivot point are bowed outwardly as shown, bringing the lower end'stowards one another, which ends are turned upwardly'and inwardly-to form the hooks 5, which hooks are not sharpened, but are the same width as the member 1.

The upper end of each of the members 1 above the pivot point, are traversed by a substantially elongated slot 6 extending from the upper end. of the member to a point approximately midway between that end and they pivot point, which slot is adapted to receive between itsinner faces, a roller member 8 carried by a bolt 9.

Connecting the'upper free ends of the members .1, is an actuating member 10 formed ofa'piece of rectangular material, bent upon itself and split along its bent portion from either end inwardly to the points 11 to provide a pair of opposed engaging arms 1:2, and 13, Whicharms are positioned one on either side of the adjacent member 1, and are carried and secured in position upon the rivet 9, as clearly shown in Fig. -A handle member 15 is.provided by loop- 7 ing a section of cylindrical material appro priate for this purpose and passingthe ends I beneath the central portion of the actuating member 10, between the points 11-11 and bringing them out upon'opposite sides as is clearly shown in Fig; l and then ben d ing the end 16 about the adjacent portion ol the loop, as shown.

From the foregoing description, it may be seenthat when the actuating member is pressed downward, the roller carried berides down the slot 6 forcing out the upper ends of the members 1 and consequenttween the arms 12 and 13 upon the bolt 9,

ly opening the hooks 5 at the lower end.

When the object to be lifted has been engaged by the hooks 5, the handle member 15 is grasped and lifted upwardlydrawing upwardly the actuating links 10 and reversingthe action just described to close the lower ends drawing them in, to tightly engage the object.

As has been said, the hook members are broad being of the same width as the width of the members from which they are formed, insuring a better engagement with the object to b-eg'rasped, as for example, should it be desired to lift a metal container such as is used to store ice cream in, the hooks 5, being broad, insure a better engagement with the flange surrounding the can than would be the case if they were sharpened like the type of tongs commonly in use.

What I claim is:

1. In a pair of tongs, a pair of crossed gra 'ipling members, each having a longitudinal slot in its upper end and inturned at its lower end to provide a hook, a pivot connection between said members, an actuating member, means extending tl'irough each end of said actuating member and through said slot, for retaining said actuating 'mem-- ber in shiftable engagement with the grapplingi' members. and a handle carried by said actuating member.

2. In a pair of tongs, a pair of crossed grappling members, each having a longitudi-' nal'slot in its upper end and inturned at its lower end to provide a hook, a pivot connection between members, an actuating member, means extending through each end of said actuating member, and through said slot, for retaining said actuating member in shiftable engagement with the grappling member, rollers carried by said means and travelling against the opposed walls of said slots. during the operation of the actuating member, and a handle carried by said actuating member.

3. In a pair of tongs, a pair of crossed flat grapplingmembers, each having a longitudinal slot in its upper .end, and in turned at its lower end to provide a hook, a

pivot connection between said members, said members below the pivot point, being given a half twist causing the width of the lower portion to be disposed at right angles with respect to the upper portion, an actuating member, means extending through each end of said actuating member and through said slot for retaining said actuating member in shiftable engagement with the grappling members, and a handle carried by said actuating member. a

4. In a pair of tongs, a pair of crossed grappling members each having a longitudr nal slot in its upper end and int-urned at its lower end to provide ahook, apivot connection between said members, an actuating member formed of a rectangular piece of material bent upon itself and split from each end inward a short distance along its bent portion providing a central cross con necting portion and opposed endarms, said armsda ted to be positioned one on either side or the upper end of the about grappling member, means extending through said opposed arms .at'ea'eh end or the actuating member and through said slot for re t aining said actuating member in shiftable connection between said members, an acre ating member formed of arectanfgula'r piece of material bent upon itself and split from each end inward a short distance along its bent portion providing a central cross connecting portion and opposedenfd arms, said arms adapted to be positioned one on either side of the upper end of the adjacent grappling member, means extending through said opposed arms at each end of the actuat ing member and through said slot for re t aining said actuating member in shift'able engagement with the grappling members, rollers carried by said means and travelling against the opposed wall of said slot the operation or the actuating member, and a handle carried by said actuating member.

6. In a pair of tongs, a pair of crossed grappling members each havinga longitudr. nal slot in its upper end and Vinturned at its lower end to provide a hook, a pivot connection between said member, an actuating member formed of a rectangular piece of material bent upon itselfand split from each end inward a short distance along its bent portion providing a central cross connecting portion and opposed end arms, said arms, adapted to be positioned one on either side of the upperend of the adjacent grappling member, means extending through said opposed armsat each end of the actuating inember'and through said slot for re taining said actuating member in fshiftable engagement w th the grappling members, rollers earried by said means and travelling against the opposed walls of said slot during theoperation of the actuating member, and

a handle member formed to provide a and secured by twisting about'the adjacent loop portion.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

LEWIS ELswoRT'rr van EVERY. 

